LOT 0307

Royal Medieval Bronze Carriage Plate of Edward III and his Wife Queen Philippa of Hainault

ENGLAND, 1327-1377 A.D.

1 3/8 in. (37.2 grams, 59 mm).

Discoid appliqué, flat in section and slightly distorted; incuse heraldic detailing to obverse blazoned 'Quarterly 1st and 4th Gules three lions passant guardant [Or] 2nd and 3rd [Or] four lions rampant [in a quadrangle] the 1st and 4th Sable the 2nd and 3rd [Gules]'.

Found Lowick, East Northamptonshire, UK.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BH-D78F26.

Cf. Ashley, S., Medieval Armorial Horse Furniture in Norfolk, East Anglian Archaeology 101, Dereham, 2002, fig.20.

The Royal College of Arms has identified these arms as belonging to King Edward III and his wife, Philippa of Hainault (r. 1327 - 1369). The terminus post quem for this piece is therefore 1327, the date of the marriage, and the likely terminus ante quem is Edward's death in 1377. A circular mount with the same fixing method, which bore the arms of the Bishopric of Ely, was found in Norfolk and is illustrated and described by Steven Ashley (2002: Fig. 20, p. 45, no. 196). The presence of the royal arms on this piece is likely to be a public display of allegiance to the throne rather than an indication of ownership on the part of the crown.